Man United get cold feet amid £17m Chelsea transfer swoop for Thomas Tuchel’s own Kylian Mbappe

Chelsea look set to be handed a major boost in their efforts to agree a new contract with N’Golo Kante. The 31-year-old, who sees his current deal at Stamford Bridge expire next summer, has attracted the attention of Manchester United this summer, according to The Guardian.

The France international featured 42 times for the Blues this season, though a growing injury record hampered his ability to reach the heights that he once relished. The report claims that United are eager to find out whether the midfielder could be sold this summer, with his contract in west London coming to an end.

It’s believed that Chelsea are reluctant to sell the Frenchman, who is a favourite of Tuchel. And, as a result, Erik ten Hag’s side have caught on; according to Goal, United are conscious of being used as leverage in Kante’s contract negotiations.

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The Red Devils have been long-term admirers of the Blues midfielder and, following Ten Hag’s appointment, interest in Kante from Old Trafford has seemingly intensified. However, his aforementioned injury record poses a problem for either party that are chasing his signature.

Nonetheless, Tuchel thinks that the Frenchman’s career in west London deserves more recognition and claims that the midfielder has been the key to Chelsea’s recent success. Earlier this month, when asked if Kante should be spoken of alongside Didier Drogba, the Blues boss said: “For sure, but because he is not that obvious, he is not in the spotlight, he is even more important for a team because a guy like N’Golo with the mentality of a helper, a water carrier, this makes the difference and big teams and successful teams need this. That’s why we love him so much, and everybody wants to play with him and why we miss him so much when he is not there.”

The Chelsea boss added by outlining how important it is for Kante to find his fitness again, having struggled with several muscle injuries this term. Tuchel said: “I think he is our key, key player but key, key players have to be on the pitch and he only plays 40% of games,” Tuchel said. “He is our Mo Salah, [Virgil] van Dijk. He is our Kylian Mbappe.”

Kante, who is valued at just £17million by CIES Football Observatory, played a huge part in Chelsea’s run to the Champions League title last season, and the German wants his medical entourage to find a way of getting him back to that level. Tuchel added: “Last year, I think in the last five matches of the Champions League they handed him the trophy. I think they handed it to him even before the match.”